Stuart Broad today bowled outdoors for the first time since brusing his heel during England’s Test tour of India six weeks ago.

The seamer, part of the England squad in New Zealand, was watched by limited-overs coach Ashley Giles and bowling coach David Saker as he got through five overs off his full run during the lunch interval at a domestic Plunket Shield match on the second square at Eden Park.

An England spokesman said Broad (above) appeared to have come through the test, wearing new specially-fitted boots, with no ill-effects. Broad’s first chance for match practice comes in Monday’s Twenty20 warm-up fixture against a New Zealand XI in Whangarei.